It was a cold, yet beautiful night—a special night.
Far away from the kingdom of Virelia, in an isolated area surrounded by trees, there was an open area filled with a variety of wild flowers.
In the front of it all was a small wooden house.
It wasn't fancy, but it was beautiful.
The flowers and the trees swayed with the wind as the moonlight shined from above.
Inside the small house, there's just one bed and a dining table.
The home was clean.
The items seemed like they hadn't been touched for years.
From the opposite side of the house, a frail young man with one shoe and a necklace hanging by his neck walked toward the house.
His eyes looked dead, his face covered in dirt, his black hair was messy, his clothing was tattered, his head was down, his back was hunched.
He walked slowly, like the world was crushing down on him.
He limped slightly with each step as he approached a small tomb beneath a tree on the right side of the house.
He dropped to his knees and instantly broke down, tears flowing out of his eyes uncontrollably.
He turned, leaned against the tree next to the tomb, and stared up at the stars.
(Current time: November 6, 11:59 PM)
"Hey, Mom… it's almost my birthday today. I will be turning 14. I thought we would celebrate it together," he mumbled.
(Current time: November 7, 12:00 AM)
"I missed you, Mother," he said softly.
"I missed your handmade cakes."
He looked up at the sky.
"I missed watching the stars together."
He paused for a bit. A tear ran down his face.
"Why did you leave me all alone?"
He turned to her grave.
"This world is really cruel. I don't have anyone to run to."
The young man just stared at the stars in the sky, silently.
Then he started talking to his mother's grave again.
"Do you remember telling me that when someone passes away, they become the stars in the sky?"
He paused and looked at the grave again.
"People keep telling me that's not true, and that once you are gone, you are gone forever."
He paused. His tone was softer now.
"Part of me knows that you just said that to comfort me."
He paused again. He tried to smile, but once again he broke down.
"But I like your version better, Mother.
At least then I know you are up there watching over me.
At least then I don't always feel alone, Mother," he muttered as he curled up next to the grave and slowly fell asleep.
The sobbing stopped.
Only the sound of his breathing remained.
As he slept, the moonlight shined on him.
He looked peaceful, as if the light was gently holding him.
He smiled as he slept away.
As the sun rose through the forest toward the young man, a few soldiers carrying spears, shields, and swords appeared.
They wore dark gray longcoats with silver trim, thin silver metal plates over their chests for light protection, combat pants, and black leather boots.
Leading them was a tall, handsome man with blond hair, yellow eyes, and a sharp jaw.
Unlike the other soldiers, he wore a white longcoat with gold stripes, with a few medals on the left side of his chest.
On the right side of his hip was a fancy longsword.
They slowly approached the sleeping young boy.
"Young Master Sylas, please wake up," he said as he reached out to shake him.
His reflexes kicked in.
His eyes snapped open.
He instantly leaped backward, holding his last shoe in his hand like a sword.
"Who are you?" he snapped, his vision still blurry.
Then he slowly recognized the man in front of him.
"Oh… it's you, Lucius."
He put his shoe down.
"What do you want now?" he asked.
"Young Master, we came to take you back," he replied.
He tilted his head, eyes sharp.
"Where?"
"To the kingdom of Virelia. Your father has called for you," he said casually.
He burst out laughing.
Then it disappeared.
Now his eyes filled with rage.
"Tell him to shove it. I have nothing to do with that man or that family."
"Sorry, but this time it's not an option. We will have to take you by force," he announced.
"My answer is no.
Now leave, and let me celebrate my birthday with my mother," he said as he turned his back.
One of the soldiers stepped forward and grabbed him by the shoulder.
He turned his head, grabbed the soldier's wrist, twisted it, and threw him over his shoulder, slamming him into the ground with a heavy thud.
"Don't touch me," he muttered as his knee pressed onto the soldier's back.
Then he twisted his arm, dislocating it.
The soldier screamed in pain.
Lucius raised his hand.
"Capture him."
The others all moved at once—three soldiers rushing in, trying to capture him without hurting him.
He grabbed one by the leg while sliding, pulling him down.
Another soldier came from the right.
Sylas ducked under the swing, stepped inside, and slammed his elbow into his stomach.
The man stumbled back.
A third one lunged, tried to grab him, but he grabbed his wrist mid-air, twisted, turned his hip, and flipped him over—this time taking his sword as he fell.
He got to his feet, blade in hand, his breathing calm.
He pointed the sword at the rest.
"Come, fools… if you want to die."
Lucius stepped forward, drawing his own blade.
Sylas charged.
Their swords collided—metal clashing, the sound of swords ringing out.
He struck again and again, attacking from every side—fast, wild, and sharp.
Lucius kept blocking. His stance was perfect, his eyes focused.
"Where did you learn how to fight so well?" he asked.
"Shut up," he snapped.
His movement became faster.
He was attacking while looking for an opening, but it was difficult.
Lucius's guard was flawless.
He lunged forward and attacked him horizontally.
Lucius blocked it—but Sylas used that moment to land a low kick to his knee.
Lucius groaned in pain and swung his sword vertically, but Sylas leaped backward, dodging it.
"Not bad, so Alice has taught you how to fight," he said.
That snapped something inside him.
It made him angry.
He lunged and swung harder. Faster.
His strikes were no longer clean—it was messy, predictable, just pure emotion.
"Don't say her name!
None of you deserve to say her name!
She was the greatest warrior in the kingdom!
And that man played with her heart and abandoned her in this place, alone!" he screamed as he continued to swing his sword.
His arms moved wildly—rage exploding from every swing.
"You all abandoned her!"
Strikes from the left.
"She was a hero. She was loved by everyone in the kingdom!"
His voice cracked as he—
He brought his sword from above.
"Then because of that devilish king and queen—"
He swung his sword vertically, pushing him back.
"She became the most hated person in the kingdom!"
"That's not true," Lucius said, still easily blocking his attacks.
"Shut up!"
He leaped up and struck down.
Lucius raised his sword and blocked it.
The force made him bend his knee a little.
Sylas used that chance to kick him on the left side of his head while still in mid-air.
But Lucius lifted his arm up to block.
The force made him slide to the right slightly.
He saw that it didn't work.
He backed away instantly before Lucius could grab him.
"Calm down, Sylas."
"Shut up! Shut up!!"
He lunged with everything he got.
From above, he struck down.
He was so full of rage, he didn't even notice—
Lucius had sidestepped, and with one clean strike, hit the side of his neck.
Everything started spinning.
He stumbled back, vision going blurry.
The sky twisted.
His legs gave up.
And he fell to his knee.
Then, before hitting the ground face-first, with his last bit of energy, he muttered—
"You all… killed her."